Help :)

[illusionsx]

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I'm doing a project for my cultural anthropology class on technology and culture - my technology is the cell phone. I'm supposed to interview people regarding this technology, and I figured it'd be nice to get the perspectives and opinions of people who are not from my city. </p>

<p>If you could answer these questions for me, I would be eternally grateful!</p>

<p>Age:
Gender:</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone?</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now?</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own?</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features?</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why?</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols?</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you?</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?</p>

<p>Thanks again! :)</p>

[PlattsburghLoser]

<p>Gender: Female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? Age 13.</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? I didn’t, my parents picked the iPhone.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own? It’s not really personalized. All it has is a Juicy Couture phone cover and a couple of ringtones. Otherwise, it’s in factory condition.</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features?
Calls, games (subway rides are long and boring), and the web if I can’t access a computer.</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why? I might notice if somebody has one of those old school flip-phones, but otherwise, I don’t pay attention. </p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?
The phone I want isn’t sold in the U.S. and doesn’t work with U.S. carriers. I can’t remember what it’s called, but it was from Japan and made the iPhone look like it was from the middle ages.</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols? I don’t think so. I don’t think highly/less highly of someone over a phone.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you? Fairly, because I think it’s good for safety to be able reach someone if I’m stranded or in a bad position.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?
The only thing that’s changed is I will only text or email someone that I don’t really want to talk to.</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
Pro: safety, accessibility
Con: some people get addicted to them</p>

[fizix2]

<p>Age: 18
Gender: F</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? ~11?</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? inherited it from mom</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own? i have lisa frank stickers on mine. also i download games</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features? well since i came back to caltech i haven’t been using it at all, probably because i don’t carry a purse anymore</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why? no, unless they’re blackberrys, in which case i’m like “hey, cool phone.” or if they’re iphones i’m like “doesn’t the screen get dirty”</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them? [this</a> one](<a href=“http://www.psfk.com/2006/12/minimalist_cell.html]this”>http://www.psfk.com/2006/12/minimalist_cell.html), but i’ve never seen it in real life</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols? no</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you? not. talk to me on email or usenet.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others? well i talk on the phone of course, but only with one friend who really likes talking on the phone</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones? before cellphones it was a lot easier to get lost when trying to find people</p>

[thatsthekey]

<p>Age: 20
Gender: Female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone?
I was 17/senior in high school</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now?
I wanted a touch screen phone and it was easy to use/could fit in my pocket</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own?
I just have pictures on the background because I like to see them when I look at my phone!</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features?
I mostly use texting and the internet on my phone because it’s more convenient than calling.</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why?
Yes, I think phones are interesting and I like to see if people have the same phone as me! </p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?
Probably any of the blackberry’s or the iphone. I just think “Wow, they have a cool phone…” </p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols?
Yea, it seems like the more technology you have, the higher your status is.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you?
Very important because I don’t have a house phone – I use it for everything – work, school, fun.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?
It’s a lot easier to get a hold of people now.</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
Pros: Easy to communicate with people, entertainment, organization…
Cons: They can be quite a distraction, especially in school!</p>

[einnob]

<p>Age: 16
Gender: female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone?
Middle of junior high, so 13 years old.</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now?
I really like the Sony Ericsson brand, its not terribly expensive, plus their camera functions are good.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own?
I take a lot of pictures on my phone, so my photo albums. Nothing else really, the keychain thing kept falling off.</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize?
Why do you use these extra features? Generally calling people and taking pictures. Nothing else much.</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why?
I usually notice people’s phones if they are the same ones that I have, especially if its in a new color, such as the red one. I just like to say that “I have the same phone as you”. If other people’s phones are super old, like walkie talkie sized (and I have seen people with them), I definitely do notice.</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?
I think just as long as people have a phone to use, that is enough for anyone. I like all phones with high quality cameras and speakers, the brand does appeal to me but its not all I look for.</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols?
No, its just a speaking device, I dont think of it as a crown or anything.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you?
Fairly important.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?
I actually dont use my phone that much for talking, I like to talk to people in person. But still, its useful for questions and things I cannot wait to say.</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
It sometimes a distraction, but overall its beneficial. Its a lot easier to find people, it brings a lot of relief when youre lost.</p>

[PlattsburghLoser]

<p><a href=“http://i124.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/p8/knyte6426/dynatac.jpg[/url]”>http://i124.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/p8/knyte6426/dynatac.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I wonder what people would think if they saw someone using one of those 80s cell phones today.</p>

[einnob]

<p>I dont think Id even recognize it as a cellphone. :P</p>

[SomethingWitty]

<p>Age: 16
Gender: Female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? Age 9. (I know, ridiculous. Only because I was a slightly… attached child going away to sleepaway camp for the first time. It was pay-as-you-go, and I didn’t have a regular phone until I was 12, if that counts.)</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? Quite honestly, it was pretty and pink. And I liked the half touch screen option.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own? It has this stupid Hello Kitty phone charm that I put on it, because I couldn’t really find one that I liked better. Nothing else.</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features? Calls and texts. Pictures and videos if I don’t have a decent camera on hand. And the internet, until it was taken away for over-utilization. </p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why? Only if it’s super new and innovative or super old and damaged. Other than that, no.</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them? I’d really like a BlackBerry Storm. Because they click. Haha. And I think people who have them are more “with-it” than I am.</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols? Hardly. Some people see phones as gadgets, others see them as means of communication. If they’re not viewed equally by everyone, they can’t be seen as a class distinction, can they?</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you? Important. I don’t drive yet, and my phone has kept me from being stranded in places I don’t want to be numerous times. Safety is a big benefit to having one.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others? I’ll probably text someone more than I’ll call them, but I’ll communicate with more people than I would had I not had a phone.</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones? Pros include the provision safety, portability, and an increase in the tendency to communicate. Cons include… addiction, I guess.</p>

[swiss.miss.13]

<p>Age:
17 yrs</p>

<p>Gender:
female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone?
when i was 9 yrs old</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now?
because it was the newest model at the time</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own?
i dont add any stickers or anything to it, i keep it simple, but mine shows my background on the front (its a flip open one), so i like to have a colourful background</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features?<br>
Calls and texts only</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why?<br>
Of course i notice others, and i guess its interesting to see the new models or different brands…no reason particularly</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?
I think a Blackberry is the best phone because of its multitude of applications and simplicity. I don’t think anything special about the people that have one.</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols?
Yes, at least where I live. When a new phone comes out, you can guarantee half the school will have it in the matter of weeks, then lose it a month later, and get the new model. It’s really sad actually, because no one appreciates how lucky they are.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you?
Extremely. I got my first at 9 because i went to school about an hour from home and had to take the train every day so it was a neccessity in case i had problems, and still is. Seriously, I dont know where I’d be without it.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?
I dont remember NOT having a phone, so its an every day applicance to me I can’t imagine not having. </p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
pros= stay in contact, can get help quickly, overall i think its more beneficial than not.
cons= distracting, can get addicted and waste money, another status symbol</p>

[HisGraceFillsMe]

<p>Age: 18
Gender: Female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? About 5 years ago, when I was 13.</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? QWERTY keyboard…it was important to me because most of my friends don’t like talking on the phone, so we constantly txt one another.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own? Snap-on case, wallpapers with pictures I’ve taken myself.</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features? Calls, text messages. I don’t really use messenger or anything, and I don’t wanna pay for the internet.</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why? Sometimes I do…mostly I notice my friends’ phones because they use them around me.</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them? Probably an iPhone, just since everyone wants them. I don’t really think any differently of people who have them though.</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols? Absolutely. If you don’t have one, people think you’re weird or behind the times.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you? Extremely. I go to school far from home, and my cell phone enables me to keep in touch with my family and friends since we don’t have a land line in the dorm. (Actually we do, but it costs an arm and a leg to call family & friends at home…400 miles away.)</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others? I rarely talk on the phone anymore. Mostly I text message. My friends are the same way…especially if we need to communicate during class but don’t want to step outside to make a phone call. Texting is very discreet and doesn’t bother other students (at least not at my school).</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones? Pros-Always available, amazing resource in an emergency.
Cons-dangerous if used while driving, people often don’t take the risk seriously.</p>

[ronpaul2012]

<p>This thread is an absolute chick magnet</p>

[S0ad]

<p>Age: 20
Gender: F</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? 7th Gradish</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? It was free with the plan.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own? I just have a picture of my dog on it… because I love my dog…</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features? Calls and texting. I sometimes like texting better than an actual convo. I can also text in class without making noise (though I avoid it as its rude).</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why? No. I don’t actually care.</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them? Maybe iphones? I think they’re wasting their money?</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols? For some people.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you? The particular phone isn’t, I just appreciate having something for emergency phone calls.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others? I keep in contact easier via texts…</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones? Pros = Can use in case of an emergency. Cons = People become glued to their phones and fail to interact with others directly around them. People talk and drive and make the road more dangerous. The signals may have harmful effects some day.</p>

[RhymesWithGreen]

<p>Age: 17
Gender: Female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? At 13 years old, as an eighth grader (My high school starts and eighth grade, is twenty minutes from home, and I was (am) a terribly involved student</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? I was looking for a simple sleek phone - got tired of my flip and had an upgrade discount. The salesman however convinced us to get a more serious plan with unlimited everything, so I also got a slightly more complex phone so I could access everything. It’s a Samsung slider of some sort.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own? I’ve had stickers on the smooth side since I got the phone, though I switch them out when they start to peel off and get worn out. Right now I’ve got a big scrapbook sticker that says “Happiness” - looks like it’s from a label maker, and a yellow foam-sticker star. I don’t personalize ring tones, just display. To make it more me, I guess.</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features? I primarily use it for texting, though I prefer phone calls. I also use it for facebook, because I’m really only on my desktop once a week and on the laptop it’s blocked. Occasionally I use the GPS application because I have no sense of direction.</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why? I do, but now I have a phone I really like, so it’s not out of jealousy, it’s out of past jealousy/habit/wanting to know about people. I used to get the cheapest phones, so the spiffy ones were fun. I still don’t have a totally trendy cool phone, but it’s great for me and everything I use it for.</p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them? The line between desirable and trendy is thin. It’s what works for you. I hear iphones are pretty cool, and while the applications seem really awesome…I just think they’d get old and you wouldn’t use them like you expected to. idk…</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols? Yes.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you? Way more important than I wish it was. I always have it with me, and I used to think teenagers who were attached to their phones were ridiculous. I’m not as bad as some, but still.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others? Texting is a major difference. Instantaneous updates. I get annoyed when people have text conversations - it should be for short announcements/notifications/questions that don’t require a conversation or instant response, but it’s a culture you adapt to.</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
Pro = constant communication
Con = constant communication/attachment</p>

[Klockan3]

<p>

This thread is an absolute chick magnet

Maybe cell phones is the intellectual women’s shoe/purse?</p>

[NJJC]

<p>Age: 18 in less than a week.
Gender: Female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone?
13, end of 8th grade</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now?
Touch screen and it was advertised as a texting phone.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own?
I don’t really? I rarely use the camera feature. </p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features?
I use my phone for calling and texting. Texting is the easiest and most effective way to communicate with people. </p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why?
Occasionally, if it’s something new that I haven’t seen before or it it’s a weird color. </p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?
iPhones/blackberries? I don’t know they’re the most expensive</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols?
I don’t think so, at least they aren’t where I’m from. </p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you?
Very important, I use it constantly</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?
It makes it easier, especially to talk to my older brother that lives across the country. I can text him all day without inconviencing myself or him by calling him. </p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
Pros are def. instant communication. I suppose the cons would be that in general people put more emphasis on virtual communication instead of actual communication.</p>

[b_r_um]

<p>Call me a looser but I don’t have a cell phone. I used to have one until I came to the US for college. Initially I couldn’t get a cell phone plan because I did not have a SSN. Once I got a SSN I was so used to living without a cell phone that I did not bother getting one.</p>

<p>Believe it or not, one can live without a cell phone just fine.</p>

[SparklingStars13]

<p>Gender: Female</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? Age 16</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? Um… well, when I went to buy my cell phone, I didn’t have much of a preference. It was on sell when I went to the store and bought it.</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own? My cell phone isn’t personalized on the outside. But the cell phone desktop was personalized. I forgot which website where I got the desktop design. My phone is the sony w810i. it’s just plain black lolls.</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features?
Calls, text, and camera. I used text to send short messages instead of calling because it’s a short message. I’m not much of a caller person, but I don’t text much. I use camera because I don’t have a digital camera. Cell phone camera is the only camera I got.</p>

<p>Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why? Yep, I do. Especially people who have sony ericsson cell phones. I don’t know why, but I like to look at what models other people have. </p>

<p>What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?
I think the most desirable phone is the iphone. To me, it is very advance and has lots of features and fun to use. Some people have them because other people have them and they are popular. I think that people who have the iphone are rich lols. Also, they want the latest gadgets </p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols? Yes. I know that cell phones are the most popular gadget (I think). Depending on what type of cell phone and how new it is, it determines your social status. Like for example, the apple iphone came out in 2007. people who bought it right after it came out, or within half a year, I would consider them rich / high class, social status.</p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you? Well, I would say important and not important. But yea, it would be important because of emergencies. </p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?
having a cell phone hasn’t changed my way of communicating. I barely use my cell phone, but i might say i communicate more because of text and call. </p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
Pro: emergency, status symbol (if you have expensive one or latest cell phone), text (easy communication)</p>

<p>Con: bills, addiction, radiation.</p>

[ronpaul2012]

<p>That’s weird?</p>

<p>Illusionsx just called me. He said he needs the cell numbers of everybody who posted. He’s not at home, but he said you can give them to me; I’ll forward them to him. Didn’t say exactly why he needs them, but he seems like an honest guy, right?</p>

<p>edit: just to avoid 40 year old, bald, lonley man misconseptions, that was a joke</p>

[Klockan3]

<p>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
lol</p>

[augustuscaesar]

<p>Age: 18
Gender: M</p>

<p>When did you get your first cellphone? Gr. 11</p>

<p>Why did you choose the phone you have now? Cheapest prepaid</p>

<p>How and why do you personalize your cell phone and make it your own?
Don’t. Just add my contacts in that’s about it.</p>

<p>What do you use your cell phone for? Just calls, or are there other features and functions that you utilize? Why do you use these extra features?
Calls. Don’t use any extra features.
Do you notice what types of phones other people have? Why?
Mostly iPhones due to its distinctive rectangular iPod shape.
What do you think is the most desirable phone out there? What do you think about people who have them?
Can not think of particular type. But probably smartphones in general. I don’t think too much but probably they have too much $$$ if they’re using it during high school.</p>

<p>Do cellphones become status symbols?
Yes. </p>

<p>How important is your cell phone to you?
So-so. Important when asking my parents to pick me up.</p>

<p>How has having a cell phone changed the way you communicate with others?
Not much difference.</p>

<p>What do you view as the pros and cons of cellphones?
Pros:
-better communication
-cheaper/more convenient than phone booths
-safety for 911
-take picture of potential “blackmail” worthy events just kidding but probably 1/4 Facebook photos are from cellphones</p>

<p>Cons:
-some plans are expensive
-PEOPLE EXPECT YOU TO HAVE IT ON ALL THE TIME, AND BECOMES ANNOYED IF YOU TURN OFF/FAIL TO ANSWER YOUR CELLPHONE. BECOMING MANDATORY FOR SOCIAL LIFE.</p>